[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Cochran):
  S. 1121. A bill to authorize the cancellation of Perkins Loans for 
students who perform public service as librarians in low-income schools 
and public libraries; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am joined by Mr. Cochran in introducing 
important legislation, the Librarian Incentive to Boost Recruitment and 
Retention in Areas of Need (LIBRARIAN) Act, to support our Nation's 
librarians. This legislation is also being introduced in the other body 
by Representative Becerra, along with Representatives Grijalva, Ehlers, 
and Shimkus.
  Public libraries and schools across the Nation are experiencing a 
shortage of librarians. Approximately 25 percent of America's school 
libraries do not have a State certified library media specialist on 
staff and with more than three in five librarians becoming eligible for 
retirement in the next decade this shortage is anticipated to only 
worsen.
  The LIBRARIAN Act amends the Higher Education Act to provide for 
Perkins loan forgiveness to individuals with master's degrees in 
library science who become librarians in low-income schools and public 
libraries. Librarians working full-time in low-income areas would 
qualify for up to 100 percent Perkins loan forgiveness depending on the 
number of years they serve.
  Libraries and librarians play an essential role in our schools and 
communities; this legislation aims to provide the same support to 
librarians as other public service workers receive, including teachers 
working in low-income schools, Head Start staff, law enforcement 
officials, and nurses or medical technicians.
  Today we celebrate National Library Workers Day, a day to recognize 
the valuable contributions made by librarians and others who work in 
libraries. With this legislation, we have an opportunity to encourage 
more individuals to pursue the field of library science and retain 
those skilled librarians who are already serving in our low-income 
schools and communities.
  I was pleased that the text of this bill was included in the Higher 
Education Act reauthorization bill approved by the Senate Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee last Congress. I will again 
press for its inclusion in the reauthorization bill the Committee is 
currently working to develop. I urge my colleagues to join us in this 
endeavor by cosponsoring the LIBRARIAN Act.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1121

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Librarian Incentive to Boost 
     Recruitment and Retention in Areas of Need Act of 2007'' or 
     the ``LIBRARIAN Act''.

     SEC. 2. LOAN CANCELLATION.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 465(a) of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ee(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``section 111(c)'' in subparagraph (A) and 
     inserting ``section 1113(a)(5)'';
       (B) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph (H);
       (C) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (I) 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(J) as a full time librarian, if the librarian has a 
     master's degree in library science and is employed in--
       ``(i) an elementary school or secondary school that is 
     eligible for assistance under title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965; or
       ``(ii) a public library that serves a geographic area that 
     contains 1 or more schools eligible for assistance under 
     title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (3)(A)(i), by striking out ``(H), or (I)'' 
     and inserting ``(H), (I), or (J)''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to any year of service that is 
     completed after the date of enactment of this Act.
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